Stanford, Michigan State give 100th Rose Bowl football game a throwback look

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Quarterback Kevin Hogan (8) of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates alongside running back Jackson Cummings (23) after defeating the Arizona State Sun Devils 38-14 in the Pac 12 Championship game at Sun Devil Stadium on December 7, 2013 in Tempe, Arizona.

Taiwan Jones (34) of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a 34-24 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes to win the Big 10 Conference Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7, 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In an era of spread offenses and up-tempo attacks, the Cardinal and Spartans earn their success the old-fashioned way — with solid run games supported by physical defenses.

In that sense, it’s fitting Stanford and Michigan State will square off in the 100th Rose Bowl Game, scheduled for 2 p.m. New Year’s Day.

“I think it’s going to be very physical,” Stanford coach David Shaw said. “You’re talking about – and I say – I’m not a stats guy. I hate statistics when they’re used to justify things. I’m into film, and when you put the film on, you’re going to see two of the better defensive teams in the nation that play fast, that play physical, that you see 11 guys run to the ball, you see them play as a unit, and that’s what you’re going to see.

“I don’t believe this is going to be one of those 52-51 shootouts. This is going to be physical, this is going to be tough sledding. It’s going to go all the way down to the end.”

Stanford, led by senior running back Tyler Gaffney and linebacker Trent Murphy, is in a Bowl Championship Series bowl for the fourth consecutive season, which tops the nation. The Cardinal beat Wisconsin, 20-14, in the 99th Rose Bowl last season.

“Stanford is a tremendously talented football team,” said Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, whose Spartans are in Pasadena for the first time since beating USC, 20-17, in the 1988 Rose Bowl. “I believe they do things right. I think that Coach Shaw and his staff have a tremendous relationship with their players. You can see that when you watch games on TV. So it’s going to be a tremendous challenge for us.”

Stanford (11-2), which is 6-6-1 in the Rose Bowl, won’t hide its intentions. The Cardinal come right at the opposition, led by Gaffney, who earned second-team All-America honors after rushing for 1,618 yards and 20 touchdowns. Stanford also features All-American lineman David Yankey and quarterback Kevin Hogan, who has thrown for 2,087 yards and 20 scores.

The defense is led by Murphy and senior linebacker Shayne Skov. Murphy’s 14 sacks lead the country and he is third nationally with 21 tackles for a loss.

“They’re an extremely well-coached, fundamental team, and they parallel a lot of the things that I think we believe in as an offensive and defensive football team,” Dantonio said. “So there’s a similarity in philosophy.”

Michigan State (12-1), which upset then-No. 2 Ohio State to win the Big Ten championship, also features a sound run game and solid defense. The Spartans are led by running back Jeremy Langford, who has rushed for 1,338 yards and 17 touchdowns, and quarterback Connor Cook, who has thrown for 2,423 yards and 20 touchdowns.

The defense is led by Darqueze Dennard, who earned first-team All-America honors after securing 59 tackles and making four interceptions